Integral oil tank and main frame structure for mining machines



INTEGRAL OIL TANK AND MAIN FRAME STRUCTURE FOR MINING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1952 k \F R .NM

INVENTOR. labs/Z14. Mddllzmz fitter/26 Nov. 29, 1955 R. A. M CALLUM 2,

INTEGRAL OIL TANK AND MAIN FRAME STRUCTURE FOR MINING MACHINES Filed Aug. 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet2 IN VEN TOR.

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INTEGRAL OIL TANK AND MAINFRAME STRUCTURE FOR MINING MACHINES Application August 27, 1952, Serial No. 306,600

4 Claims. Cl. 262-30) This invention relates to improvements in "main frame structures and more particularly relates to an integral main frame, oil tank and passageway structure for a hydraulisally-operated machine, such as a 'kerf cutting machine used in mines underground, which serves as a'stora g'e tank and cooling medium for the hydraulic "fluid for operating the machine as well as a support for the operating parts of the machine.

Heretofore, ker f cutting machines of the truck mounted type propelled about the mine on wheels, or continuous traction tread devices and having a "cutter bar positionable to cut horizontal and shearing kerfs have been operated by hydraulic motors and have been supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure from a source "of supply of fluid under pressure on the supporting truck'or main frame of the machine.

Since these machines operate in confined spaces underground, the machine must he constructed 'with a 'view toward utmost compactness both in lateral "and vertical dimensions. F or this reason it has been exceedingly dithcult to provide adequate space for storing the hydraulic fluid used to effect operation of the machine and to maintain this fluid cool.

My invention has as "its 'p'rin'cipal objects "to remedy "these diificulties by incorporating the oil storage tanks and passageways in the main frame of the machine as an integral partof the structure thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a main frame structure for a hydraulically-operated machine such as a kerf cutting machine used 'in mines underg'ronnd, in which part of the main frame structure forms storage tanks for the hydraulic fluid for operating the machine, and another part forms a fluid passageway for passing hydraulic fluid from one storage tank to another, and in which "the storage tanks are an integral part of the loadbearing structure of the frame and with the passageway maintain the hydraulic fluid cool by radiation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a main frame structure particularly adapted for supporting the operating parts of a kerf cutting machine, in which a portion of the structure is cast and has cored passageways therein, and in which hollow fabricated frame "structures form a continuation of the cored passageways'in the cast portion of the frame, and also with the cored passageways form columns extending along each side of the main frame and a storage space for 'hydraulic'fluid all contained within the vertical and lateral limits of the frame "structure.

A still further object 'of my invention is to provide a novel and improved form of main frame structure wherein one end portion of the frame is cast and has a cored passageway therein opening, to opposite sides of the cast structure of the frame and wherein hollow fabricated frame structures form continuations of the cored passageways and connected oilstorage tanks, forming a part of the load bearing structure of the machine. H

These and other objeet's of my invention will appear from time to time as the followingj'speciiication:proeeeds and with reference to the accompanying 'drawing'swherein;

States Patent flee 2,725,223 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of "a main frame constructed in accordance with my invention, with certain parts thereof broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section;

:Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of 'the main frame shown in Figure 1, with'c'er'tain parts thereof broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially longitudinal seetion;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong-lines 33'of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 4+4 of Figure 3.

In the drawings I have shown a main frame 10 for a hydraulically-operated machine, which may be a kerf cutting machine of the combination horizontal and shearingtype, mounted to cut from wheels or continuous traction tread devices, such as, the machine shown in a companion application, Serial No. 305,742, filed by me 'on August 22, 1952, and entitled Horizontal and Shearing Kerf Cutting Machine. The kerf cutting machine is no part of my present invention except insofar as the operative parts of the machine may be supported on the main frame, and the hydraulic fluid for operating the various operative parts of the machine may be taken from and returned to oil tank structures formed as an integral part'of the main frame and cooled by radiation from the main frame, so need not herein be shown or described.

The main frame 10 includes a front casting portion 11, which may preferably be a steel casting and which is herein shown as being of a generally annular form having an open center 12 forming a bearing support for a turntable (not shown upon which the cutter chain drive motor and support for the cutting element of the kerf cutting machine (not shown) may be mounted. The annular casting portion '11 of the main frame 10 is shown as having two upwardly projecting bosses 1'4, 14 extending upwardly from opposite sides thereof at diametrically opposed points, from which extend axles 15, 15 for the supporting wheels of the machine (not shown).

The annular casting portion 11 of the main frame 10 is shown as having two laterally spaced rearwardly extending integral arms 17, 17 the outer margins of which extend angularly inwardly from the periphery of the casting portion '11 generally tangent thereto for a portion of the length thereof and then extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main frame 10 for the remainder of the length thereon. The inner margins of said arms diverge from the outer margins thereof toward the center of the main frame. The upper margins of the arms 17, 17 are shown as increasing in vertical dimensions at a uniform slope as they extend rearwardly from the annular portion of the front casting 11.

The arms 17, 17 are cored to form cored chambers or passageways 19, 19 opening to the rear of the casting 11 and form the ends of oil storage tanks for the machine. The passageways 19, 19 are shown as being connected together adjacent their forward ends by a passageway 20. The passageway 26 is shown as being formed by coring the rear end portion of the casting 11 in the space between the arms 17, 17 to open into the chambers 19, 19 and also to open at the rear of the casting portion between the chambers 19, 19 in order to simplify the casting operation. The rearwardly opening cored portion of the casting 11 is closed to form the passageway 20, after the core has been cleaned from the casting, by aplate 21, which may be welded thereto.

The open rear end portions of the passageways 19, 19 are shown as communicating with aligned spaced hollow frames or tank structures 23, 23, and as forming the forward end portions of said tank structures. The tank structures 23, '23 may be of 'awelded plate construction, the bottoms of which are shown as being formed by a plate 24 extending from the arms 17, 17 rearwardly for substantially the full length of the main frame. The forward end of the plate 24 is shown as being recessed within shouldered portions 25, 25 in the bottom of the arms 17, 17 and opening to the rear ends and bottoms of said arms. The plate 24 may be secured to said bottom opening shouldered portions, as by welding.

The tanks 23, 23 are shown as having outer side walls 26, 26 extending upwardly from and along the outer margins of the plate 24 and forming continuations of the lateral margins of the arms 17, 17. The side walls 26, 26 are shown as having openings 27, 27 therein, affording access to the interiors of the tanks 23, 23 for cleaning. The openings 27, 27 may be closed by closure plates 29, 29, which may be suitably sealed to said side walls, and which may be secured thereto as by studs and nuts 30, 30.

The tanks 23, 23 have inner walls 31, 31 forming continuations of the inner margins of the arms 19, 19 and extending angularly inwardly toward the longitudinal center of the main frame 13 but spaced :1 substantial distance therefrom, to further the cooling of oil within said tanks by radiation. Said walls may be welded to the inner walls of the arms 17, 17. The rear end portions of the walls 31, 31 are shown as being bent outwardly to extend at an angle to the body thereof outwardly toward the outer margins of the bottom plate 24, as indicated by reference character 32. The ends of said outwardly turned portions of the walls 31, 31 are shown as abutting inwardly turned angularly extending portions 33, 33 of the outer side walls 26, 26. The portions 32, 32 and 33, 33 of the side walls 31, 31 and 26, 26 respectively may be secured together as by Welding. It is, of course, understood that the walls 26 and 31 need not be made from separate plates but that said walls and the bent portions thereof may be formed by a single plate if desired.

The walls 26, 26 and 31, 31 of the tanks 23, 23 are shown as being closed at their tops by cover plates 34, 34 which may be welded thereto, and which may form supports for the valves (not shown), for controlling certain operations of the machine, and for certain other operative parts of the machine. The plates 26 and 31 of the tanks 23, 23 being welded to the bottom plate 24 and to the rear ends of the associated arms 17, 17, and having the cover plates 34, 34 welded thereto, thus form box-like frame structures extending along the sides of the plate 24, which are an integral part of the load carrying structure of the main frame and besides serving as tanks also serve as columns forming a continuation of the arms 17, 17, and integral stiffening members for the plate 24.

Two spaced beams 35, 35 are shown as extending along the outer margins of the plate 24 from the junction of the angular wall portions 32 and 33 of the Walls 31 and 26, to the rear end of the main frame. The beams 35, 35 are shown as being in the form of plates welded to the top of the plate 24 and to the wall portions 32 and 33 and extending along the outer edges of the plate 24 for the full length thereof. The beams or plates 35, 35 have outwardly turned flanges 36, 36 forming a reinforcing structure for said plates and also forming supports and connecting members for certain operative parts of the machine. nected together adjacent the rear ends of the tanks 23, 23 by a transverse plate 37, which may be welded to the insides of said beams at its ends. The transverse plate 37 is shown as having a pivot pin 38 extending rearwardly therefrom, which may form a transverse pivotal support for the rear axle of the machine (not shown). A plate 39 is shown as extending forwardly from the plate 37 beneath the top thereof, to form a pivotal support for certain operating parts of the machine, which may be cylinders and pistons (not shown), for turning the turnble of the machine.

The beams 35, 3.5 are shown as being con- A transverse plate 40, like the transverse plate 36 extends between the beams 35, 35 in rearwardly spaced relation with respect to the transverse plate 37 and is welded to the insides of the beams 35, 35 at its ends. The transverse plate 40 is shown as having a pin 41 extending forwardly therefrom in axially aligned relation with respect to the pin 37 and forming the other pivotal mounting for the rear axle assembly for the machine. The beams 35, 35 are each shown as having an opening 42 therein in the space between the cross frame members 36 and 37, to accommodate the axle (not shown) for the rear wheels of the machine.

The flanges of the beams 35, 35 are shown as being cut away adjacent the rear ends thereof to accommodate laterally projecting water tanks 45, 45 extending laterally from said beams. The bottoms of the tanks 45, 45 may be formed from lateral continuations of the bottom plate 24, and the inner side walls of said tanks may be formed from the outsides of the beams 35, 35 or from separate inner plates welded to the back of said beams.

Outer or rear walls 46, 46 of the tanks 45, 45 are shown as being of an arcuate formation in plan and as extending from the rear ends of the plates 35, 35 and curving outwardly and forwardly toward the forward end of the main frame. The outer ends of the side walls 46, 46 are joined to the plates 35, 35 by walls 47, 47 forming the forward walls of said tanks. Cover plates 48, 48 having openings in the top thereof, covered by covers 49, 49 are welded to the walls 46, 47 and the plates 35, 35 to form tops for the tanks and to lend rigidity to the walls 46, 46. The walls 46, 47 and cover plate 48 may be sufliciently heavy to form the outer ends of a rearend bumper for the main frame of the machine. The tanks 45, 45 are herein provided for the storage of water to be used for spraying the cutter bar during the kerf cutting operation, and thereby to reduce the dust in the atmosphere during cutting, but may also be used for the storage of oil, or for any other purpose desired.

At the rear end of the main frame 10 and extending beneath the beams or plates 35, 35 is a horizontal plate 53 spaced above the top of the plate 24 and welded to the insides of the plates or beams 35, 35. The plate 53 has a forwardly projecting support portion 54 extending toward the cross frame member 40 and being of a tongue-like form and braced to the plate 24 by a vertical brace 55 (see Fig. 2).' The plate 54 may form a support for certain operative parts of the machine (not shown). A wall 56 extends between the plates 35, 35 and is welded thereto and spaces the plate 53 above the top of the plate 24.

The rear end of the main frame 10 between the plates 24 and 53 may be closed by across frame member 60, welded to the ends of the plates 35, 35 and also welded to the plates 24 and 53. Provisions may be made in the cross plate or bar 60, to receive a coupling member if desired. A bar 63 may be connected across the tops of the plates 35, 35 at the rear ends thereof, to maintain said plates in the proper laterally spaced relation.

A transverse passage 70, defined by plates 24 and 53, wall 56, and member 60 connects the two tanks 45, 45.

Vertically extending guard plates 64, 64 are shown projecting laterally from the beams 35, 35, adjacent the forward ends thereof andas conforming generally to the supporting wheels for the machine and forming guards for the rear traction wheels and also affording a means tov which a step (not shown) for the operator of the machine may be attached, and located for ready accessibility to the valves and control mechanisms on the cover plates 34, 34 for the tanks 23, 23.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a novel and improved form of main frame structure, particularly adapted for a hydraulically operated machine has been provided, which is of a cast and welded construction having spaced column like structures extending for the length thereof, intermediate portions of Which form spaced integral tanks for hydraulic fluid wall within the limits of the frame and connected together by the casting portion of the main frame so formed as to form the ends of the fluid storage tanks and serving as a fluid passageway member passing oil from one oil tank to the other, and with the walls of said tank also serving to radiate heat from the oil.

It will be understood that modifications and variations of this invention may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a main frame construction particularly adapted for a hydraulically operated kerf cutting machine, a cast generally annular forward end portion forming a bearing support for a rotatably movable member of the machine, said forward end portion having two spaced arms extending therefrom and having cavities therein forming passageways open to the outer ends thereof, the space between said arms also having a cavity therein and communicating with said cavities in said arms and opening between said arms toward the rear end portion of said cast portion, a plate closing said rearwardly opening cavity between said arms, to provide a passageway from one arm to the other, a bottom plate extending rearwardly from said arms, and a hollow load carrying structure extending upwardly from said botom plate and rearwardly therealong in communciation with the rearwardly opening passageways in said arms, said hollow load carrying structure forming two spaced storage tanks for hydraulic fluid the bottoms of which are formed by said plate and are connected together by said passageway in said cast portion and the cavities in said arms.

2. In a main frame construction of the class described having a cast generally annular forward end portion forming a bearing support for a rotatably movable member of the machine carried thereby, said forward end portion having two spaced arms extending therefrom, having cavities therein forming passageways extending therealong, a rear end portion of said cast portion and the space between said arms having a cavity therein affording a passageway connecting said spaced passageways together and opening into the space between said arms, a plate extending rearwardly from said arms and forming a bottom plate for said main frame, and two spaced hollow structures extending along opposite sides of said plate and inwardly therealong and closed at their bottoms by said plate, and with said arms and welded structure forming load bearing columns extending for the length of said main frame and also having communication with the open forward end portions of said arms and said passageway and forming a storage means for hydraulic fluid for operating certain operative parts of the machine, and also a heat radiating means therefor, to maintain the fluid cool during operation of the machine.

3. In a main frame construction of the class described having a cast generally annular forward end portion forming a bearing support for a rotatably movable member of the machine, said forward end portion having two spaced arms extending therefrom having cavities therein forming passageways extending therealong opening to the rear of said cast portion of said frame, a rear end portion of said cast portion having a passageway extending between said arms and having communication with the cavities therein to afliord a continuous passageway extending along said arms from the open end of one arm to the open end of the other, a plate secured to and extending rearwardly from said arms and forming a bottom plate for said main frame, two beams extending along each side of said plate in spaced relation with respect to the open ends of said arms, and two spaced hollow structures extending along opposite sides of said plate and inwardly therealong and closed thereby and connecting said arms with said beams and with said beams and arms forming columns extending for the length of said main frame, said hollow structures having communication with the open forward end portions of said arms and affording a storage means for hydraulic fluid for operating certain operative parts of the machine and with said passageways forming a heat radiating means therefor.

4. In a main frame particularly adapted for a hydraulically operated kerf cutting machine, a cast generally annular forward end portion forming a bearing support for a rotatably movable member of the machine, said forward end portion having two spaced arms extending rearwardly therefrom and having cavities therein providing passageways opening to the rear ends of said arms, and hollow welded structures forming continuations of said arms and secured thereto and having hollow portions communicating with the passageways in said arms, and a common bottom for said hollow structures, connecting said hollow structures together to form an integral load bearing part of said main frame and a storage space for fluid for operating the fluid operated parts of the machine supported on the main frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,682 Richmond June 15, 1920 2,211,781 Joy et al. Aug. 20, 1940 2,465,173 Scales et a1. Mar. 22, 1949 

